Michael o neill



(No Model.)

M. ONEILL.

CHIMNEY CLEANER.

N0. 369,993. Patented Sept. 13, 1887.

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W W e N. PETERS. PhmxrLilhngrapher. Wnshmglcn. I10.

UNiTnn STATES ATENT Trice.

MICHAEL ONEILL, OF MIOHIGAMME, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN HIOKEY, OF SAME PLACE.

CLEANER.

SPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369.993. dated September 1887- Application filed May 4, 1 887.

.To to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVIIOHAEL ONEILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Michigamme, in the county of Marquette and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chimney-Cleaners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to chimney-cleaning devices, and has for its object the production of a device which can be adjusted to any width of chimney, and which will expand and clean the chimney on its descent, and will contract on 1ts withdrawal, so as to avoid obstructions and knobs that may project inward from the sides of the chimney, thereby preventing injury to the device and to the chimney.

The improvement consists in two or more plates which are yielding in the direction of their length, means for adjustably holding them together for permitting their adaptation to different-sized chimneys, provisions for automatically carrying them down the chimney, and devices for contracting the plates when withdrawing the cleaner from the chimney.

The improvement further consists in the novel features presently to be set forth and claimed, and shown in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of a chimney-cleaner embodying my invention, showing an adjusted position by dotted lines; Fig. 2, a sectional View on the line X X of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a detail view showing the operation of the device.

The plates A and Btwo being sh0wn-are placed the one upon the other, so as to be moved sidewise relative to each other, for adapting the cleaner to chimneys of different widths. They are provided with coincident transverse slots near each end and about midway between the ends. The eyebolts 0 pass through the end slots, and have thumb-nuts D mounted upon their projecting ends, for clamping the plates in an adjusted position,

Serial No. 237,114. (No model.)

and the washers d, placed upon the eyebolts and located upon opposite sides of and embracing the plates, afford a broad bearing and clamping surface, which will prevent the plates slipping when the thumb nuts are screwed up tight. The bolt E, extended through the middle slots, is adapted to receive and hold in place the weight, which is composed of a number of sections, F. The nut c, mounted upon the bolt, holds the weight in position, and when screwed up tight clamps the plates tdgether. The chain G, connected at each end with the eyebolts, has the cord or chain 9 connected therewith at its middle.

The plates curve downwardly and away from a line passed through their ends and are yielding or elastic, so that their ends maybe brought closer together, as when withdrawing the cleaner, so as to avoid any projections or knobs Within the chimney. They are open on each side of the middle portion, as shown, which construction renders the cleaner much lighter, and enables the plates to be made of stout material and yet be sufficiently elastic to give when withdrawing the cleaner from the chimney.

In practice the cleaner is let down into the chimney and is carried to the bottom by the Weight, which may be varied as desired by removing or adding one or more sections. During the descent of the cleaner the plates are distended their full length and the ends scrape the sides of the chimney; but upon the withdrawal the strain is from above and on each side of the cleaner, and the weight causes the middle portion to sag, which operation brings the ends of the cleaner closer together, so as not to touch the walls of the chimney. If the cleaner is too wide or not wide enough for the chimney, the plates can be adj ustcd sidewise, either in or out, as desired, by loosening the thumb-nuts and the nut 011 the middle bolt. \Vhen the desired adjustment is efi'ected, the position of the plates is fixed by tightening up the nuts previously loosened.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with the cleaner, yielding and curved downwardly between its ends, and the weight located at the middle of the cleaner, of the chain or other connection fast bolts passed through the end slots, the chain ened to the ends of the cleaner, and the cord connecting the eyebolts, and the cord secured secured to the middle of said connection, subto the middle of the chain, substantially as set stantially as and for the purpose described. forth. 5 2. The herein shown and described chimney- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in I 5 cleaner, composed of two yielding or elastic presence of two witnesses. plates placed upon each other and having MICHAEL ONEILL. transverse slots at each end and midway the Witnesses: ends, the bolt passed through the middle slot, F. O. CHAMBERLAIN, 7 to the weight mounted upon the bolt, the eyc- 1 JOHN HIOKEY. 1 

